By Tom Cockram

Figs are generally evergreen, mostly with large glossy leaves. Some do shed leaves if it is hot and dry. There is another group of figs that have hairy rough leaves and are known as Sandpaper Figs.

Most varieties of figs are found in Queensland but extend into NSW, NT and WA. Two figs that grow outside this area are Ficus Coronata that grows in the SE of Victoria and the other is Ficus Columnaris from Lord Howe Island.

Most figs are frost tender and dislike drafts. They need to be outdoors preferably with filtered or morning sun and protection from the heat of the sun in summer. In winter, place fig bonsai where they are protected from frost under eaves, trees, shade cloth, north facing verandah, etc.

If figs are kept indoors for a short time, they need lots of daylight but no direct sun through the window, keep away from heaters and heating ducts in winter. Ficus Benjamina, the weeping fig, only requires indirect sunlight so will survive indoors.

Soil is the most important part of growing figs in a bonsai tray.

Use the best quality bonsai mix available from either bonsai nurseries or if mixing your own make it a very open free draining mix. Pulverized cow manure can be added to the mix when repotting. The soil must be a very open mix to ensure free draining as figs don’t like waterlogged roots.

Large leaves and growing tips may be removed throughout the growing season.

Some figs not known to have aerial roots may develop them on your bonsai.

Some figs as bonsai will bear fruit such as the Green Island, Retusa, Sandpaper fig, the Banana Fig, Ficus Copiosa, Ficus Carica and Ficus Racemosa.

When repotting, remove or reduce any root that is over dominating and any roots going straight down.

Watering

Ficus need watering in the growing season but little during the winter. It is important that water drains away as they don’t like wet feet.

Feeding

Use liquid organic fertilizers every 4 – 6 weeks during the growing season in Victoria September to April. You can add Seasol at the same time.

Defoliation

The beauty of figs is being able to reduce the leaf to an incredibly small size. This is called ramification. To achieve this the fig is defoliated at least once a year. This is done between November and February but only if the plant is very healthy.

To do this either cut the leaf stem or hold the leaf and tear sideways. The leaf stem will drop off in 7-10 days and a new leaf will appear in another 7-10 days. After the new leaves appear then the growing tip can be removed or cut back to the desired length. Never do this if there are no leaves on that branch but wait for new leaves to appear. With each defoliation the leaf size will be reduced by half.

Pruning

Keep new shoots to no more than three leaves. As soon as the second and third leaf opens nip out the growing tip. Try to cut back to the underside leaf or one growing in the direction you want the branch to go.

Repotting

Only in the warmer growing months, October to March, use good quality open bonsai potting mix. A bonsai nursery will have suitable soil mixes. The aim is to give the bonsai room to grow new healthy feeding roots so rake out old soil and fibrous roots, remove downward growing roots to encourage outward growing surface roots. Keep these evenly spaced and an uneven number, encourage aerial roots.

Pests

Scale are the most common pests and can be removed with fingers quite easily. They make their presence known by small specks of sticky deposits on the leaves. You can spray with white oil then keep out of the sun for one or two days.

Australian Ficus suitable for bonsai

Common Smooth Leaf Varieties

F. Albipila (Poison Fig)
F. Baileyana
F. Benjamina (Weeping Fig)
F. Columnaris (Lord Howe Island)
F. Congesta
F. Coronulata (Peach-leaf Fig)
F. Crassipes (Banana Fig)
F. Deastruens (Destroying Fig)
F. Drupacea (Drooping Fig)
F. Leucotricha (White Hair Fig)
F. Macrophylla (Moreton Bay Fig)
F. Microcarpa (Banyan Fig)
F. Nodosa (Nodules Fig)
F. Oblique (Small Leaf Fig)
F. Platypoda (Small Leaf Moreton Bay Fig)
F. Pleucarpa (Banana Fig)
F. Racemosa (Bunch Fruit)
F. Rubignosa (Port Jackson Fig)
F. Rubignosa (Little Ruby sport)
F. Septic
F. Subouberula
F. Triradiata (Three Rays Fig)
F. Watkinsinia

Sandpaper Leaf Ficus

Ficus Coronata (Victorian Native Fig)
F. Copiosa (Fruiting)
F. Fraseri
F. Hispida
F. Opposita
F Scobina (edible fruit)

Other Figs available in Australia

F. Carica (fruiting Fig)
F. Natalaensis (Dwarf South African strangling Fig)
F. Pameric x Petiolaris (Mexican Fig)
F. Salicifolia (Willow leaf Fig)
F. Pumila Repens (Climbing Fig)